The Washington critic., 1887-09-24
[Copyrisktsd, 1887, by ward II. Lanoa-A All
Rights Reserved


Lincoln dates back to the autumn Of
1s47. For reasons that will appear fur
ther on that acquaintance ripened into
personal friendship and a professional
and confidential intimacy which con
tlnued without jar or interruption dur
ing the succeeding eighteen years,
forming by far the most valued treas.
ure my memory holds to day. Mr..
Lincoln stood by me with unswcrving
fidelity In all my early struggles to OBJ
tain footing at the bar; aud to his
wise counsel and unseltlsh friendship
l am indebted for whatever measure of
success achieved In the most eventful
years OF my life. In 1919 became his
local partner, and that connection was
never formally dissolved, but continued
until he bade adieu to our clients and
assumed the perlloui burden OF the
Chief Magistracy.
1t is my purpose in these recollections
Of that illustrious man to sketch many
not able incidents, characteristic ad.
ventures and events In his private and
public career which have escaped the
notice or were beyond the reach of his
many ographers-matters, in brief,
which came to my knowledge In
large measure, II not solely through my
fortunate and long. continued associa.
lion with him In both his private aud
public life. Ifthe Ego" shall seem at
lines pushed forwad to undue promi.
nence in these sketches 1t will be be.
cause OF Its convenience, or rather
neccssity-certsinly not from any mo.
tive Of self. adulatiou.
In the fall OF 1s47, attracted by glow
ing accounts Of material growth aud
progress In that part Of the West, loft
my home In what was then Berkeley
County, Va, and settled at Danv!lle,
Vermlllion County, Ill. That county
and Sangamon, including Springfield,
the new capital OF the State, were EN-.
braced in the Eighth Judicial Circuit,
which, at that early day, consisted of
fourteen counties 1t was thsn the
habit OF lawyers, like their brethren Of
England, "to ride the circuit" BY
that circumstance people came In con.
tact with and were enabled to note the
distinguishing traits Of all the lawyers
In the circuit. soon learned that the
man most celebrated, even In those
plNhNSi uhJe, iOl
wit, ability and eloquence, In that
region of the State, was Abraham Lin.
coin. My great curiosity to see him
was gratiiied soon after took up my
residence at Danville.
AN INTRODUCTION TO MR.. LINCOLN.
] was introduced to Mr.. Lincoln by Hon.
John T. Btuart, for some years his partner
at Springfield. After comical survey OF
my fashionable toggery-my swallow.ta,l
coat, white neck cloth and rufiled shirt, au
astonishing outfit for young limb OF the
law In that settlement-Mr. Liucoln said:
"And so you are . cousin of our friend Jno
J. Brown; he told mo you were coming.
Going to try your hand at the law, are
was then delicate, slender boy, still
on the infant side ef twenty one. John
Brown was noted lawyer and highly gifted
Is an orator. Mr.. Lincoln continued: ~
should know at glance that you are
NirsDiau; hut ! don't think you would
succeed at splitting rails That was my oc-
cupation At your age, and | don't think |
have taken as much pleasure in anything
else from that day to this -
! assured him, perhaps, as a sort OF de.
fense against the eloquent condemnation
implied in my fashionable claw-hammer,
that ] had done deal OF hard manual
III MUCH hulustu ~ tuls
solemn declaration, Mr. Lincoln said: 40
yes, You VirgiuiaDs shed barrels OF perspira,
tion while standing on at a distance aud
experimenting the work your slaves do for
you IT is different with us. Here 1t is
every fellow for himself or he don't get
theren
Mr. Lincoln soon learned, however, that
my detestation of that same system OF slave
labor was quite as pronounced a. his own,
and from that hour we were friends. Until
the day OF his death It was my pleasure aud
good fortune to retain his confidence un-
shaken, as he retained my affection uu-
broken.
RIDING TIN CIRCUIT.
! was his local partner, first at Dauville,
and Afterwards Al Bloomington. We rode
the circuit together, travelling by buggy in
the dry season aud on horseback ia bad
weather, there being no railroads then 10
that part OF the State. Mr.. Lincoln was,
from the beginning OF his circuit.rldlng,
the light and life of the court, tho bar and
the people. He had defeated that redoubt-
able champion OF pioneer Methodlam, Rev.
Peter Cartrgbt, iu the last race for Con
gress. Carthght was an oddity in his way,
quite as original rs Lincoln himself. He
was u foeman worthy OF Spartan steel, and
Mr. LincOln's fame WAS greatly enhanced
by his victory over tho famous preacher.
~ WINS huuNu lubl IlNCblu ~ 40
to make speech or argue case there was
ageneral rush aud q crowded house. IL
nsttered little what subject he was to dis
cuss: Lincoln was subject enough for the
people. 1t wss Lincoln they wanted to
hear and see, and his progress around the
circuit was marked by coustantly-recur-
ring series Of 0vatiOns.
Although Mr.. Lincoln was my senior by
eighteen years, In one important particular,
lcertaiHlyHas, In amArvGlous degree, his &C.
knowleaged superior. One of the fret things
Learned, after gettiug fairly under way 40
lawyer, was TO charge we'll for legal ser
vices-a branch OF the practice that Mr..
Lincoln never could learn. In fact, the
lawyers OF the circuit often complained
that his fees were not at all commensurate
with the service rendered. He at length
left that branch OF the business wholly TO
me; and TO my teuder mercy clients were
turned over to be slaughtered according To
my popular and more advanced idea OF the
dignity Of our profession This soon led to
serious and shocking embarrassment.
LINcoLs's OBJECTION TO A BIa rER.
Early in our practice gentleman by the
name Of Scott placed in my hands case OF
some importance, He had demented sis
ter who possessed property to the amount
OF ten thousand dollare, mostly IN cash. A
cOnservatOr, as he was called, had been ap-
pointed TO take charge OF the estate, and
we were employed to resist a motion to re-
move the GOnservator. A designing adyen-
turer had become acquainted with the un-
fortunate girl, and knowing that she had
money, sought to marry her-henGe the
motion. Scott, the brother aud cOpseryg-
tor, before we entered upon the case, inslst-
ed that should fix the amount of the fee.
told him that It would be two hundred
and fifty dollars, adding, however, that he
had better walt; It might not give us much
trouble, and In that event less amount
would do He agreed at once to pay two
hundred and fifty dollars, as he expected q
hard ppntpst nypr tina mntinn